What do you think?
Rate this book
Chewing Gum in Holy Water: A Childhood in the Heart of Italy
A nostalgic account of the author's youth in a remote post-war Italian village describes how his family's financial struggles caused him to be placed in the temporary care of his traveling priest uncle, his love for adventure and American products, and the life lessons he gleaned from a variety of unexpected sources.
- GenresMemoirNonfictionItaly
334 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2007
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 29, 2018
Really enjoyable!
This story was funny and entertaining. Thoroughly believable childhood memories. A delight to read. Descriptions of that part of Italy in that time period were very interesting.
This story was funny and entertaining. Thoroughly believable childhood memories. A delight to read. Descriptions of that part of Italy in that time period were very interesting.
January 10, 2021
Although I was astonished that my immigrant parents' mountain village of Roccacinquemiglia was mentioned in the book, and charmed by Mario and all of his shenanigans (I pictured my father getting into the same kind of mischief), the book read more like juvenile fiction. It was worth reading, if only for the Italian expressions that I heard as a child time and again.
January 20, 2018
A young boy goes to live with his aunt and her brother, a Catholic priest, in Abruzzo, in rural Italy. He has adventures aplenty, and they often get him into big trouble. Funny, evocative, and true. Loved the glimpses into the culture of the area I visited last year.
July 28, 2018
A delightfully warm, humorous and entertaining romp through the childhood of Mario growing up in rural Italy in the 1950's. Easy to read and (as I currently live in Italy too) very believable!! Thoroughly enjoyed it.
August 13, 2025
Fun childhood stories
Mario is a great storyteller. I spent q little time in Abruzzo in the last year so I could feel his little town tales with visuals easily. Makes me want to return to visit his places. Are his friends still there? I'd love to meet them too.
Mario is a great storyteller. I spent q little time in Abruzzo in the last year so I could feel his little town tales with visuals easily. Makes me want to return to visit his places. Are his friends still there? I'd love to meet them too.
November 18, 2013
We've all been told not to judge a book by its cover and by and large I think I have been pretty good at doing just that in my life. However, I put off reading this book for a few years (after receiving it as a gift) because of its unappealing cover. The dust jacket image is a sepia toned picture of a boy peering into a well with the title superimposed over the top in pastel colors. It looks either boring or silly and perhaps (a worst case scenario) both.
So when I finally read this book, I was pleasantly surprised. Written by Mario Valentini, an Italian screenwriter and actor (who worked with the world famous Federico Fellini among others), this book recounts a childhood lived in the mountains of Italy in the years shortly after WWII. Near the beginning of the book, Mario is sent by his parents to live with his Uncle, a Roman Catholic priest, and this is the entry point for a series of misadventures. The Uncle pays attention to Mario, but also gives him certain freedoms he did not have at home. Mario also experiences the life of an itinerant priest, living in several different villages between the ages of four and 12 and traveling all over the countryside. But all is not smooth sailing. The ward of a priest is sometimes held to a high standard. And in addition to his Uncle (whom Mario adores) there is also a crazy spinster aunt with whom he must contend.
Co-written with Valentini's partner, Cheryl Hardacre, the stories are told in the first person and have the ring of authenticity. You couldn't make this stuff up. So when Mario and his friends impersonate a priest in the confessional in order to earn money for cigarettes or dare each other to touch a bull in an open field to win the love of a girl, you know that these tales actually happened - which makes them all the funnier.
Naturally Mario grows up and learns life lessons along the way, making this a warm and pleasant coming-of-age sort of book. But what will stick with me most are the descriptions of life in the small mountain villages, isolated from the more modern and urban parts of Italy, and the boyish antics of Mario and his friends. If you enjoy childhood memoirs or books that describe daily life in other countries, you might find this book an enjoyable diversion.
So when I finally read this book, I was pleasantly surprised. Written by Mario Valentini, an Italian screenwriter and actor (who worked with the world famous Federico Fellini among others), this book recounts a childhood lived in the mountains of Italy in the years shortly after WWII. Near the beginning of the book, Mario is sent by his parents to live with his Uncle, a Roman Catholic priest, and this is the entry point for a series of misadventures. The Uncle pays attention to Mario, but also gives him certain freedoms he did not have at home. Mario also experiences the life of an itinerant priest, living in several different villages between the ages of four and 12 and traveling all over the countryside. But all is not smooth sailing. The ward of a priest is sometimes held to a high standard. And in addition to his Uncle (whom Mario adores) there is also a crazy spinster aunt with whom he must contend.
Co-written with Valentini's partner, Cheryl Hardacre, the stories are told in the first person and have the ring of authenticity. You couldn't make this stuff up. So when Mario and his friends impersonate a priest in the confessional in order to earn money for cigarettes or dare each other to touch a bull in an open field to win the love of a girl, you know that these tales actually happened - which makes them all the funnier.
Naturally Mario grows up and learns life lessons along the way, making this a warm and pleasant coming-of-age sort of book. But what will stick with me most are the descriptions of life in the small mountain villages, isolated from the more modern and urban parts of Italy, and the boyish antics of Mario and his friends. If you enjoy childhood memoirs or books that describe daily life in other countries, you might find this book an enjoyable diversion.
August 29, 2010
Chewing Gum in Holy Water is a book I have wanted to get my hands on for a while. Italy is a place I would like to one day visit but for the time being I love to read about it and be transported there through the power of words.
Mario Valentini was born in the Abruzzo region, a land of mountains and ruins. Much history has been made on this soil and Chewing Gum in Holy Water is a memoir of Mario’s childhood, a personal history. At a young age Mario is sent to live with his uncle who is a priest and from there we follow Mario as he grows, learns life lessons and partakes in some hilarious adventures.
One of my most favourite stories to read was Mario impersonating his uncle in the confessional. I was reading this on the bus and had to laugh out loud a couple of times. My goodness what the young ones can get up to and how wonderful Mario will always have these memories. Times weren’t exactly easy, having to live with his uncle instead of his mother and family, but Mario should take great comfort in these memories as they are priceless, and the love and guidance Mario was given by his uncle is something which no doubt still makes his heart grow warm and should always be remembered with gratefulness and fondness.
Hard to describe but I am going to use the four letter N word we reviewers are advised not to use – nice. Some say it’s not descriptive enough but nice is how I felt whilst reading this book and nice is how I feel while remembering my reading experience and creating this review. It conjures up nice thoughts, nice feelings, it really is a nice story and mostly the people who played a part in Mario’s past were nice. So there you have it, I said it, it was a nice read.
To round up this review I want to say thank you to Mario for sharing a part of his life with us and for taking us into the world of what sounds like a really beautiful place.
Mario Valentini was born in the Abruzzo region, a land of mountains and ruins. Much history has been made on this soil and Chewing Gum in Holy Water is a memoir of Mario’s childhood, a personal history. At a young age Mario is sent to live with his uncle who is a priest and from there we follow Mario as he grows, learns life lessons and partakes in some hilarious adventures.
One of my most favourite stories to read was Mario impersonating his uncle in the confessional. I was reading this on the bus and had to laugh out loud a couple of times. My goodness what the young ones can get up to and how wonderful Mario will always have these memories. Times weren’t exactly easy, having to live with his uncle instead of his mother and family, but Mario should take great comfort in these memories as they are priceless, and the love and guidance Mario was given by his uncle is something which no doubt still makes his heart grow warm and should always be remembered with gratefulness and fondness.
Hard to describe but I am going to use the four letter N word we reviewers are advised not to use – nice. Some say it’s not descriptive enough but nice is how I felt whilst reading this book and nice is how I feel while remembering my reading experience and creating this review. It conjures up nice thoughts, nice feelings, it really is a nice story and mostly the people who played a part in Mario’s past were nice. So there you have it, I said it, it was a nice read.
To round up this review I want to say thank you to Mario for sharing a part of his life with us and for taking us into the world of what sounds like a really beautiful place.
November 19, 2007
Chewing Gum in Holy water is a fascinating coming-of-age story that is laced with humorous, heart-warming life lessons of an adventurous boy growing up Catholic in post WWII Italy. His struggling mother sends four year old Mario to live with his uncle, a traveling priest, and his spinster aunt. The book covers Mario's life from 4 years old until his teen years. Each chapter is a scene from his life; the tales center around Mario's experiences with religion and his wild times with friends. From switching toys during Epiphany to hiding cigarettes and gum behind church statues and touching a bull for love; Mario's childhood was certainly unique. Every few years he moved to a new village and had to make new friends. Along the way his life was shaped by an elderly painter, the bickering Friar and Jesuit, the priest-eating Communist, two very different girls, equally adventurous friends and his beloved uncle. I would love it if a movie was made based on this book, it's a really sweet story.
January 21, 2012
I picked this up at the Dollar Tree, so I wasn't expecting much. It is not very well written, but the stories are actually pretty charming and you really like the little boy/author by the end. It takes place in rural, mountainous Italy in the late 40's or 50's. Mario is sent to live with his uncle, a priest, since his father is working in post-war Germany. He gets into all sorts of mischief and writes about it in short (well, sometimes too dragged out) vignettes. His Italy consisted of remote villages that, in this period history, seemed to be frozen in time; or frozen between times, maybe. A quick, fun read. Worth $1.00 for sure ;).
November 10, 2009
Fairly interesting biographical telling of a child growing up in Italy. Got it from the library of the cruise ship I was on because I had read my other book I brought already. The child in question lives with his uncle, a priest, and gets into misadventures. It was entertaining, but nothing that really grabbed me.
March 23, 2012
An autobiographical account of a young man's life in postwar Italy. He led a bit of a sheltered life because he lived with his uncle, a priest. Many people in Italy went hungry after the war. He did all of the pranks boys do, but with a new twist. He chewed gum, which was not "Italian" but " American." Some of his stunts reminded me of things that my son did.
September 19, 2012
This was a light and enjoyable read for me because it gave me the opportunity to revisit the Italian countryside. I will always be able to recall the sights, sounds, and aromas experienced during my time in and around the high mountain villages and their wonderful people. I would recommend this book for any age because we all share the daily adventures in childhood.
June 8, 2012
This is not just about his childhood in 1950's Italy. His family sent him off to live with his uncle who was a Roman Catholic priest serving in a variety of villages. And oh the shenanigans! A lot of fun - highly recommend for all my "church" friends.
January 21, 2016
Nicely penned memories. I liked all the Italian words and their translations. I especially liked the sections pertaining to the main character being taught the magic, value and skills associated with artistry.
July 22, 2008
Cheryl Hardacre's Memoirs of her Italian husband Mario Valentini's childhood...pleasant read...enjoyed the romp through the countryside and spectacular Abruzzo montes
January 3, 2010
a very fun, light read.
July 30, 2012
Being raised in an Italian~American family, spending 12 years in Catholic School, I can hardly wait to dive into this book!!!!!
As they say in Hollywood.......to be continued!
As they say in Hollywood.......to be continued!
July 1, 2022
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Excellent - Highly Recommended
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - A good, solid read
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - An okay read
2 ⭐️⭐️ - Meh
1 ⭐️ - Not my cup of tea
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - A good, solid read
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - An okay read
2 ⭐️⭐️ - Meh
1 ⭐️ - Not my cup of tea
September 4, 2011
Take a walk through early 1950's Italy with Mario Valentini. Memoir.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews